Straining, securing, and severing device for bale wires and other packing ties



Aug. 25, 1925. 1,550,954

A. H. FINLAY STRAINING, SECURING, AND SEVERING DEVICE FOR BALE WIRES AND OTHER PACKING TIES Filed Feb. 10, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A/exandcr ib/0.)!

' Aug. 25. 1925.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \f'z i.

ids 11 l 11 INVENT L i/ /exand A. H. FINLAY STRAINING, SECURING, AND SEVERING DEVICE FOR BALE WIRES AND OTHER PACKING TIES Filed Feb. 10, 1925 ALEXANDER HUGH FINLAY, OF I-IOLYW'OOD, IRELAND.

STRAINING, SECURING, AND SEVERIITG DEVICE FOR BALE WIRES AND OTHER PACKING TIES.

Application filed February 10, 1925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER IIUGII FINLAY, of VVillesden, Ho lywood, county Down, Ireland, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to straining, Securing, and Severing Devices for Bale l Vires and Other Packing Ties, of which. the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wire tying machines of the class in which the wire is held, tensioned, twisted and severed by means suitable to each operation and of the class in which an end of the wire is held, the wire being then passed through a slotted pinion or other slotted turnable member, then round the box, or article to which the wire is to be applied, then through the slotted turnable. member and held during the tensioning, twisting and severing operation. The obj ect of this invention is to provide an automatic machine of simple, robust and fool proof construction.

According to this invention the wire tying machine comprises means tohold each end of the wire, means for tensioning the wire, means for twisting the tensioned wire and for severing the tensioned wire after the twisting operation and it is characterized by the tensioning of the wire being effected by passing same between aledge or anvil at the end of one gripping arm and the abutting end of another gripping arm, the said ends being movably held relatively to each other but arranged so that, in operation, they face each other, the other ends of the gripping arms being mounted on pivots one only of which is disposed on a tensioning lever, or an extension of same, so that when the tensioning lever is moved, the abutting ends of the gripping arms will move firstly in relation to each other to grip the wire and then secondly, when the wire is gripped, move en bloc with the operated tensioning lever todraw the wire and so to tension same. The invention is also characterized by a frame, preferably made in one piece provided with suitably modified bearings for the slotted member and a preferably automatic release of the second bight of wire from the positioning groove by utilizing the loss of half a turn of twist in the tie. The invention is further characterized by severing means for the wire in which the cutter Serial No. 8,286.

(which would be more correctly termed a notcher, and is therefore hereinafter referred to as such) does not move to sever the wire. Although the notcher itself may be adjustable and movable (as for example a turnable centric or eccentric disc would be) the complication of a mechanically operated cutter is avoided for the wire during the twisting operation is forced against the cut ting edge of the notcher and notched and, if required, severed by the interaction of the notcher, notched wire and tensi-oning means which latter means are, or may be, so designed as to permit of their movement beyond the movement required for normal tensioning of the wire, the additionaltension being applied for the purpose of causing the wire pressed into, or against, the notcher edge to be severed thereby at the point where the notcher notches the wire.

An example of a wire tying machine in accordance with the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, whereon Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine.

2 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine looking in the direction of the arrow X.

Fig. & is an end elevation of the machine looking in the direction of the arrow Y.

Fig. 5 is a full-sized detail front elevation of a portion of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a full-sized plan view of the portion of the machine shown at Fig. 5.

' Fig. 7 is a full-sized end elevation of the portion of the machine shown at Fig. 5.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10, are detail views showing the relationship of the hooked starting end of the wire with the second bight of the wire at different periods during the wire tensioning, twisting and severing operations.

Figs. 11 and 12 show a tool for forcing the hooked end of the wire into the box.

Referring to the drawings The machine as shown in the drawings comprises a one piece frame 1 so made that it carries 011 its portion 1 a bolt 1 forming a bearing for the turnable toothed quadrant 2 which meshes with the slotted turnable member 3 for the twisting of the two bights of wire in known manner. In the example shown the slotted member 3 is of the same diameter from end to end, and is supported in a bearing formed by the recess 3 in the frame. A 4 on an extension 1 of the frame forms the support and bearing for the operating lever 4 and a bolt on an extension 1 of the frame 1 forms the support and bearing for the other operating lever The lever at is the wire tensioning lever and it has what may be termed a gripping arm 6 (and is for convenience so designated herein) pivotally attached to it on the short end beyond its pivot P. The arm 6 has a ledge or anvil 6 formed at its lower end. Above the anvil 6 and suitably restrained in movement by a screw 6 engaging in a slot 7 in the arm 7 is the end 7, of said arm 7. The arm 7 is pivotally connected with the ten sioning lever 4 at its pivot 4. As can be readily understood there are actually many positions and lengths for the pivots and the gripping arms 6 and 7 on the tensioning lever 4 the ultimate result in all cases being that, when the tensioning lever is moved, the abutting ends of the gripping arms will move firstly in relation to each other to grip the wire and then secondly, when the wire is gripped, move en bloc with the operated tensioning lever to draw the wire and so to tension same. The lever 5 is the twisting lever, or the lever which, when moved, causes movement of the quadrant 2, which, in turn, meshing with the slotted member 3, causes the latter to be turned and, when the wire is in position, effects the twisting of the wire. The lever 5 bears on a roller 2 rotatably supported on the quadrant 2 and of such length, and so positioned, that the edge of the lever 5 remains in contact with the roller 2* throughout its movement by which it imparts the necessary turning movement of the slotted member 3 for twisting the wire. The quadrant 2 is spring-loaded by spring 5 against the downward or operative movement of the lever 5 so that when the lever 5 is released, the spring 5 will act to return the lever 5 and the quadrant 2 and slotted member 3 to their starting positions. In its downward, or working movement the lever 5, passes a stopper 1 on the frame extension 1 the stopper 1 being adapted to prevent the lever 5 returning to its starting position under the action of the spring means as described. The stopper 1 at the same time holds the lever 5 at the position where the quadrant 2 has turned the slotted member 3 with the slot to the front of the machine to permit of the wire being removed from the slot. A hole or recess 11 is provided in a removable member 11 suitably supported in the frame at the left hand side of the slotted member 3. The member 11 has a forwardly projecting ledge 11 the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained.

The machine as shown on the drawings has a fixed notcher 9 supported in a bracket 9 forming part of, or secured to, the frame 1. The notcher 9 is shown reversible and it is also preferably adjustable in the bracket 9 so that the wires between its edge and the frame plate 1 are prevented from twisting over each other. The wire is forced, during the twisting operation, against the cutting edge of the notcher 9, is notched thereby and severed, or pulled asunder, by the interaction of the notcher, the notched wire and the tensioning means. The severing of the wire takes place by moving the teusioning lever 4 beyond the position for normal tensioning of the wire after the twisting operation, the additional tension being applied for the purpose of causing the wire pressed into, or against, the edge of the notcher 9 to be severed, or broken at the point where the wire is notched.

The operation of the machine will now be described. An end 10 of the wire is first inserted in the hole 11 and the wire is then bent so as to bring it close against the back of the slot 3 in the slotted member 3 through which it is passed to the space between the notcher 9 and the frame plate 1 and thence round the box, or article to be tied, by the wire. The wire is brought to the left hand side of the machine where it is passed into a positioning groove 11 in the projecting ledge 11 of the member 11, which groove is shown below the level of the hooked end of the wire 10. The wire is then continued through the slot 3 of the slotted member in front of the portion of wire already therein, thus forming the second bight of wire in the slot. Then the second bight of wire is placed between the notcher 9 and the frame plate 1 and is passed between the anvil 6 of the arm 6 and the end 7 of the arm 7. A downward movement of the tensioning lever 4-, causes, by relative movement between the arms 6 and 7, a clamping or gripping action on the wire. On continued downward movement of the tensioning lever 4, the wire is tensioned by the corresponding outward movement given to the anvil 6 and the arm 7. The gripping action on the wire be tween the end 7 of the arm 7 and the shelf or anvil 6 increases with increased strain. The tensioning movement on the wire continues until the desired strain is put on the wire or until downward movement of the tensioning lever is stopped, preferably, as shown by the end 4 coming into contact with the projection 5 on the twisting lever 5, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. The strain thus put upon the wire is maintained preferably during the whole of the twisting operation by the operator holding down the tensioning lever. During the tensioning operation the hooked end 10 of the wire is, to some extent, changed in shape and so as to cause it to move from the position shown at Fig. 8 to the position shown at 9 where it is shown drawn clear of the portion of the wire in the groove 11.

earth this The twisting lever 5 is now operated, being moved downwards and causing the quadrant 2 to be so moved as to cause the slotted member 3 to be rotated, to the required extent to put the desired amount of twist on the wire. In the downward, or working movement, of the lever 5, the stopper F is moved clear of the lever l, and near the end of its downward movement it passes a stopper l on the frame extension I its movement continuing until it comes into contact with the top of the machine base plate, or the top of the box and, when released, it will come back under the action of the spring 5 to below the stopper 1 which retains it in this position. During the twisting operation the notcher 9 notches the portion of the wire passing to the anvil 6 because, as previously mentioned, the notcher 9 is so close to the frame plate 1 that the two wires cannot twist over each other under the notchers cutting edge.

hen the twisting operation has been completed as described, the tensioning lever, having now been released from engagement with the stopper 5, is forced down to put additional tension on the notched wire which is thereby severed at the notcher 9 by interaction of the notcher, the notched wire and the tensioning means. The severing of the wire is thus optional, which is an advantage, as for example, when it is desired to put a. single strand of wire round a box, or package more than once in the same or another direction.

During the twisting operation as the end 10 of the wire is fixed in the hole 11 this end will remain stationary, but the second bight of wire 1O being free to move upwardly will be displaced by the twisting op eration and moved around the end 10 from the position shown in Fig. 9 to that shown in Fig. 10. Now in the position shown in Fig. 9 the end 10 of the wire can only be removed by lateral movement while the wire 1O can by reason of the recess 11 only be removed by upward movement so that if these wires were maintained in this position after twisting it would not be possible to detach them from the machine. By arranging that during the twisting operation the wire 10 is moved out of the recess 11 this becomes automatically released so that the removal of the tied wire from the machine is rendered easy, being preferably ac complished by moving the machine away from the tied wire except in cases where the machine is mounted on a stand and it is more convenient to move the box, or pack-- age, away from the machine.

The twisting lever 5 is released from the stopper 1 by pressing it clear of same (an extension a of lever 4: being preferably provided to act as a rest for the hand of the operator and to facilitate this operation) whereupon the spring 5 will return the lever 5 to starting position. The tensioning lever 4: is moved upwards to its starting position which releases its gripping action on the wire, the machine being thus restored to starting position.

At 11 and 12 I have shown a tool by means of which the hooked end of wire, formed in the making oft-he tie as herein before described, and which lies flat on the box, can, when required, be forced into the box. Une jaw of the open jawed end 12 of. the tool 12 is forced under the hooked end of the wire with the portion to be driven into the box lying longitudinally between the jaws of the tool so that when the latter is forced up to the position shown at Fig. 12 the hooked end 10 of the wire will be vertical and can be readily driven into the box by forcing the end 12 down between the jaws of the head 1% of the tool. The portion 12 of the tool is slidable in the head and is moved downwardly against the action of a spring 13 which has one end secured to the tool at 13 and the other end resting on the top of the head portion 12 of the tool.

Having now fully described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In straining, securing and severing de vices for bale wires or other packing ties, means for tensioning the wire, a notching device arranged so that the wire is moved into engagement with the notching device to partially sever the wire; the tensioning means serving to completely sever the wire.

2. In straining, securing and severing devices for bale wires or other packing ties, means for twisting the wire, means for tensioning the wire, and a notching device into engagement with which the wire is moved by the twisting means and subsequently severed by the operation of the tensioning means.

3. In straining, securing and severing clevices for bale wires or other packing ties, a frame having a recess, a twisting device in said recess adapted to receive and twist the wire, a tensioning device on said frame, and a notching device on the frame, into engagement with which the wire is moved by the twisting means and subsequentlysevered by the operation of the tensioning means.

4. In straining, securing and severing devices for bale wires or other packing ties, a frame having a recess, a twisting device in said recess adapted to receive and twist the wire, a tensioning lever, a pair of gripping arms co-operating with the tensioning lever, said gripping arms having cooperating parts adapted to move in relation to each other to grip the wire and together with the tensioning lever to strain the wire, and a notching device on the frame, into engagement with which the wire is moved and subsequently severed by the operation of the tensioning means.

5. In straining, securing and severing de vices for bale wires or other packing ties, a device for holding and securing the wire having means for holding and positioning the starting end of the wire, means for securing the second bight of the wire, and means for providing an automatic release of the second bight ot the wire, substantially as herein described,

6. In straining, securing and severing devices for bale wires or other packing ties, a frame having a recess, a twisting device in said recess adapted to receive and twist the wire, a tensioning lever, a pair of gripping arms co-operating with the tensioning lever, said gripping arms having co-operating parts and adapted to move in relation to each other to grip the wire and togetl'ier with the tensioning lever to strain the wire,

notching device on the frame, into ongagement with which the wire is moved by the twisting means and subsequently severed by the operation of the tensioning means, a device for holding and securing the wire having means for holding and positioning the starting end of the wire, means for securing the second bight of the wire, and means for providing an automatic release of the second bight of the wire, substantially as herein described.

7. in straining, securing and severing devices for bale wires or other packing ties, means for holding the wire; means for con necting the ends of the wire together; a tensioning lever, and a pair of pivoted gripping arms one only of which is pivotally mounted on the tensioning lever arranged so that on movement of the tensioning lever, the gripping arms move dilferontially in relation to each other to grip the wire and thereafter together to tension the wire.

8. In straining, securing and severing devices for bale wires or other packing ties, means for holding the wire; means for connecting the ends of the wire together; a tensioning lever and a pair of pivoted grip ping arms co-operating with the tensioning lever and having (re-acting parts adapted on movement of the tensioning lever to move differentially in relation to each other to grip the wire, and thereafter together with the tensioning lever to tension the wire.

In testimony whereof I my signature.

ALEXANDER HUGH FINLAY. 

